Slide pack sheet dispenser



June 1, 1965 P. GREENE 3,186,542

SLIDE PACK SHEET DISPENSER Filed Jan. 50, 1962 2-Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG,7 "1

INVENTOR JOH N P. GR EENE ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 J. P. GREENE SLIDE PACKSHEET DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1962 N INVENTOR. JOHN P.GREEN E ATTORNEY United States Patent Corporation, North Newark, Nl, acorporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,725 12Claims. (Cl. 206-57) This invention relates to dispensers for sheetmaterial and, more particularly, to one in the form of a slide pack,that is, in which an inner portion slides longitudinally with respect toan outer portion in order to expose sheets or leaves for withdrawal oneat a time.

With the development of soap and the like in the form of sheet material,an example being loose leaves to take the place of cakes or liquid, theproblem arises as to how to dispense such leaves one at a time to use ina conventional manner and without wastage. The present invention relatesto a small package which may be carried in a pocket or purse and be usedto expose the top one of a stack of leaves for withdrawal one at a timeas desired.

An object of my invention is to provide a'package comprising a cardboardbox formed as an outer portion or sleeve, an inner portion or slidelongitudinally movable therethrough to a limited extent, said innerportion being formed to expose leaves for withdrawal one by one from acontained stack thereof, the inner portion comprising two bottom wallsslidable with respect to one another and connected at theleaf-withdrawing or access end of the package by a double end wallformed by united portions folded upon one another but with their bottomedges spaced so that they are normally disposed at an angle to oneanother where they unite at the top, means connected to the sides of theupper bottom wall of said inner portion and lying inside of said outerportion,

I and means on the lower bottom wall of said inner portion to initiallylimit sliding movement of only the lower of said bottom wallsof saidinner portion, whereby when said means connected to the upper bottomwall are longitudinally pushed toward the leaf-withdrawing end of thepackage, the upper part of said inner portion slides along its lowerbottom wall and the double end wall is moved down to open position toexpose the top leaf of a stack thereof for withdrawal from the package.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a package as abovedescribed, sharp means projecting from the upper bottom wall of saidinner portion and on which are impaled portions of leaves containedtherein remote from the access end of the stack, to limit withdrawal ofsaid leaves to one at a time.

A still further object of my invention is to provide, in a package asabove described, an extension of the lower 'of the bottom walls, remotefrom the leaf-withdrawal end of the package, as a flap which is bent upto form a swingable end wall and a tab extending from the top of saidwall partially covering a stack of leaves when disposed in said packageand lying inside said outer portion, said swingable end wall serving asthe means which is pushed against to project the inner portion partiallyout of the outer portion to expose leaves for withdrawal "ice dispenserembodying my invention and shown in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 1, but showing the dispenserin dispensing or open position.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IIIIII of FIGURE1, but showing the dispenser to a larger scale.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IV--IV of FIGURE2, to the scale of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sleeve or outer portionof the dispenser illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, but to a smaller scaleand separated from the slide or inner portion.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slide or inner portionof the dispenser, corresponding in scale with FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a plan of a flat cardboard blank from which a sleeve orouter portion of a dispenser may be constructed.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIGURE 7 partlyfolded toward the position of FIGURE 5, for making an outer portion of apackage.

FIGURE 9 is a plan of a flat cardboard blank from which a slide or innerportion of a dispenser may be constructed.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG- URE 9 partly foldedto make an inner dispenser portion as shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a prong device which may be used withan inner portion of a dispenser.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the right handend portion corresponding with FIGURE 3, but showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a slide pack It) toprovide a convenient, easy to use, portable package containing fromabout 30 to 50 leaves or sheets of soap or other material desired to bedispensed. The illustrated embodiment is well adapted for feeding leavesof material entitled Detergent Film Composition, described and claimedin the Robert J. Anderson application, Serial No. 762,938, filedSeptember 24, 1958, now abandoned after being replaced bycontinuation-impart application, Serial No. 316,514, filed October 16,1963. The package is easy to open by using one or two hands. It is easyto close using one or two hands, and keeping in mind the fact that thefingers of one hand will be holding the pack and the fingers of theother hand will contain a leaf or two of the soap, if such is beingdispensed.

The pack Iii closes completely and remains closed when carried in apocket, glove compartment, purse or handbag, and substantially resiststhe entry of foreign material such as dust. The pack is so designed thatone leaf is withdrawn at a time in normal operation and the balance willnot fall free as a result of careless handling. It is so designed thatthe last leaf in the pack is as easy to withdraw as the first.

Generally, the slide pack 10 of my invention comprises two partsreferred to as the outer portion or sleeve 11 and the inner portion orslide 12. The slide or inner portion 12 is a folded cardboardconstruction resulting in a double-wall front and base. The sleeve 11 isa portion which is wrapped around the slide and has means cooperatingwith portions on the bottom of the slide to limit longitudinal movementbetween the parts.

As will be seen by referring to FIGURE 7, the outer portion or sleeve ismade from a desirably cardboard blank 13 comprising a top panel 14, abottom panel 15, a side panel to connecting the top and bottom panelsand side panels 17 and 18 which are adapted to overlap,

other.

.posed at the other end of said package- These flaps respectivelycooperate with depending tabs 36 and 37 on the slide12 or inner portionof the package to limit longitudinal movement between the parts. The toppanel 14 is desirably notched, as indicated at 22, to facilitateengagement of the inner portion 12 by a thumb or finger to efrectsliding movement between the parts.

The inner member or slide 12 of the package is formed from a desirablycardboard blank 23 which consistsof upper andlower bottom panel portions24 and 25; The portions 24. and 25, when in assembled conditiomprovidetwo bottom Walls slidable with respect to one an- These walls areconnected at one end, that is, the leaf-dispensing end of the package,by a double end wall 26 formed by a panel 27 hinged to the .part 24and apanel 28 hinged to both the part 25 and the part 27, i

7 There is a panel 29 connected to. one side edge of the panel 24 andapanel 31 connected to the other edge -of said panel.- The panels 29 and31 are bent to rectangular relationship with respect to the panel 24 andterminate at their upperiedges'in inwardly extending flanges 32 and 33,respectively. The panel at the endopposite the panel 28 is provided witha panel 34 terminating in a vflap .35. The panel 34 forms an end wall,when the parts are assembled, opposite the double end wall 26, the flap35 being formed to overlie the flanges 32 and 33 and soap leaves 43 orthe like c ontained in the package.

Struck downwardly from the panel 25 are tabs 36 and 37, the formercooperating with the end flap 19 of the sleeve 11 and the lattercooperating with the end flap 2]; of said sleeve when assembledtherewith, to limit sliding movement of the slide 12 with respect to thesleeve 11. The panel 24 receives a sharp prong 3S slit from a metalplate 39 and projecting upward throughan aperture 41; therein to providea sharp or needle-like. member on whichend portions of the stack ofcontained leaves 4*? are impaled to secure them in place for withdrawalone by one from the top of the stacks. The panel 25 desirrably has aslot 42 through which the plate 39 may be viewed, I r i To assemble thepartsforming the package, the blank" 23 is bent from the position ofFIGURE 9 through that of I FIGURE 10 to that illustrated in FIGURE 6,including the incorporation of the plate 39 with its upstanding sharpprong 3 8. A stack of leaves 43 may then be placed in I the so formedinterior of the inner member 12, withtheir rearward end portions impaledon the prong 38, if such a prong is used as is desirable, Theouterportion llis formed by. bending .the blank 13 from the position of-FIGURE 7 through that of FIGURE 8 to that illustrated in EIGURE 5. Saidbending is, however, around the formed inner portion 1 2, so that thetabs 36 and 37 are simultaneously disposed between the end flaps 19 and21 of the router portionl l. Thus movement of the inner portion 12 withrespect to the outer portion '11 is limited to that between engagementof the tab 36 with the flap 19 of theisleeve member 11 about the slidemember 12 is sure is applied to the inner portion 12 on the .line 44,that is, at the junction or. hinge between the panel 34and the flap 35,and preferably at the center of this line.

' This causes the slide or inner portion 12 to move to- 1 ward theposition of FIGURES 2 and 4 where the tab on the lower bottom wall 25 ofthe slide engages the.

andengagement of the, tab 37 with thefiap 21, Closure end flap 19 on theouter portion 11, Any further force or motion on said pressure point orline causes the upper bottom wall 24 to continue outward relative to thelower bottom wall 25, which is held .by the flap 19. This re-. sults inthe double wall 26 of'the slide snapping down from theposition of FIGURE3 to that of FIGURE 4 and leaves the pack fully open.

The reason for this action is that the top of the panel 34 engages theflanges 32 and 33 and .pushes them and their connected upper bottom wall24to rotate the panel 728,,about its connection with the wall 25rbydownward swinging of the panel 27 about its connectionwith the wall 24-.This action is.:possible because of the initial formation of the rightangled triangle attheriaccess end of sure for the pack must be appliedat the edge .44., preferably in the center. If pressure isapplied atsome point below thisedge, the slide? 12 can the projected out from thesleeve 11 in a satisfactory manner, but the action of the automaticsnap-down feature on the slide may not be satisfactory because theinnerbottom wall 24 is not then moved out with respect to the, outer bottomwall 25.

"To guard against this possibility, analternative construction'isillustrated in FIGURE 12. This construction showsthe right hand end ofthe slide to ,be angled, that is, it initially provides an acute'ratherthan a right angle at the point 44, so that-pressure is applied at theacute angle point. Byvirtueof having this construction of the slide 'orinner portion, an operator is automatically directed to thisacute-angledpart thereofzto-press sol-that the desired operation occurs.

it wi l be seen thatan importantfeatureof the package ltlis the doublewall constructionof the slide at the access end, initially makinga rightangled triangleiformed by extensions of the upper and lower bottomportions thereof. In order for the' front to (snap down it is necessarythatthere be relative motion between the two bottom :Walls of cardboard,such motion being accomplished by pushing with a finger or thumb at thepoint designated 44 or 4-4. In the'embodiment illustrated, the sleeve orouter portion 11 isrformed to close the. slide or inner portion 12withia :rathersnug fit. Thisibetter enables the frontior access end oftheslide toremain in a semilocked condition when the package is closed,The front of the slide can be forced open-when the package is closed,but this becomes muchxmore difficult if a snug fit is provi ed.

Having now describedmy invention in detail in accordance with the PatentStatutes,-those..skilled inthis art will have no diificulty in makingchangesand modifications in the individual parts or their relativeassembly in order to meet'specifiorequirements or conditions.Such'changes and modifications may be made'without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention, as setforth in the following claims.7

I claim: 1

l. A package comprising a cardboard box formed as an outer portion, aninneriportion longitudinally slidable 7 two bottom walls functionallyslidable with respect to one another and connected at the leaf outletend of the package by a double end 'wal-l formed by r'united portionsfolded upon one another, but with their bottom edges spaced so that saidunited portions are normally disposed at an angle to one another wherethey unite at the top, means connected to the sides of the upper bottomwall of said inner portion and lying inside of said outer portion, andmeans on the lower bottom wall of said inner portion cooperating withmeans on said outer portion to initially functionally limit slidingmovement of only the lower of said bottom walls of said inner portionwith respect to said outer portion, whereby when said means connected tothe upper bottom wall are longitudinally pushed toward theleaf-withdrawing end of the package, the upper part of said innerportion slides along its lower bottom wall and the double end wall ismoved down to open position after the engagement of the cooperatingmeans on the lower bottom portion and said outer portion.

2. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer portion isfour-sided with a top wall notched to aiford access to said innerportion for pushing the latter out until a leaf may be withdrawn from acontained stack thereof.

3. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein said united portions arenormally disposed at an acute angle at the top, with the outer portionvertical and the inner portion extending downwardly and inwardlytherefrom.

4. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein the means connected to thesides of the upper bottom wall of said inner portion are flaps extendingup therefrom to form side walls and terminate in top flanges lyinginside of said outer portion.

5. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein sharp means are providedprojecting from the upper bottom wall of said inner portion and on whichare impaled portions of leaves contained therein remote from the end ofthe stack to which access is afforded for withdrawal.

6. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein there are flaps folded infrom the ends of the bottom wall of said outer portion for cooperationwith the means on the lower bottom wall of said inner portion.

7. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein there are tabs struck downfrom the lower bottom wall of said inner portion and engaged by means onthe lower wall of said outer portion to limit sliding movement of saidinner portion with respect to said outer portion.

8. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein the end of the lower of saidbottom walls, remote from the leafwithdrawal end of the package,terminates in a flap which is bent up to form a swingable end wall, atab extending from the top of said wall for partially covering a stackof leaves when disposed in said package, and lying inside said outerportion.

9. A package as recited in claim 8, wherein the flap normally extendsoutwardly at an obtuse angle to the lower of said bottom walls so as toproject out beyond the adjacent end thereof and insure thatleaf-dispensing pressure is applied to its upper edge portion.

10. A package of leaves comprising a cardboard box formed as an outerportion in which an inner portion is longitudinally slidable to alimited extent, said inner portion being formed to expose leaves forwithdrawal one by one from a stack thereof, said outer portion beingfour sided with a top wall notched to afford access to the inner portionfor pushing the latter out until a leaf may be withdrawn from acontained stack thereof, the inner portion comprising two bottomportions slidable with respect to one another and connected at the leafoutlet end by a double end wall formed by united portions folded uponone another, but with their bottom edges spaced so that said unitedportions normally make an acute angle at the top with the outer portionvertical and the inner portion extending downwardly and inwardly, theother end of the lower of said bottom portions terminating in a flapwhich is bent up to form a swingable end wall, a tab extending from thetop of said wall, partially covering the stack and lying inside saidouter portion, flaps extending up from the sides of said upper bottomportion to form side walls, flanges extending from the tops of saidflaps, disposed beneath said end wall tab and also lying inside saidouter portion, means projecting from said upper bottom portion and onwhich are impaled portions of said leaves remote from the ends of thestack to which access is afforded for withdrawal, flaps folded in fromthe ends of the bottom wall of said outer portion, and tabs struck downfrom the lower bottom portion of said inner portion and engaged by oneor the other of said flaps to limit sliding movement of said lowerbottom portion with respect to said outer portion, whereby when the topportion of the swingable end wall is pushed in, it engages said topflanges and pulls the double end wall down to open position after theadjacent flap is engaged by the corresponding tab on the lower bottomportion of said inner portion.

11. A package comprising a cardboard case, a stack of leaves disposed insaid case, means securing end portions of said leaves in place in saidcase, and means for opening said case to expose said leaves forwithdrawal one by one from the top of said stack against the resistanceof said securing means.

12. A package of leaves comprising a box formed as an outer portion, aninner portion longitudinally slidable to a limited extent with respectthereto, said inner portion being formed to expose leaves for withdrawalone by one fro-m a contained stack thereof, said outer portion beingfour sided with a top wall notched to afford access to the inner portionfor pushing the latter out until a leaf may be withdrawn from such acontained stock thereof, the inner portion comprising two bottomportions slidable with respect to one another and connected at the leafoutlet end of the package by double end wall formed by united portionsfolded upon one another, but with their bottom edges spaced so that saidunited portions normally lie at an acute angle with respect to oneanother at the top, with the outer portion generally vertical and theinner portion extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, the other endof the lower of said two bottom portions terminating in a flap which isbent up to form a swingable end 'wall, a tab extending from the top ofsaid end wall, partially covering the stack and lying inside said outerportion, means extending up from the sides of the upper of said twobottom portions, means projecting from said upper bottom portion and onwhich are secured end portions of said leaves, flaps folded in from theends of the bottom wall of said outer portion, and tabs struck down fromthe lower of said bottom portions and engaged by one or the other ofsaid flaps to limit sliding movement of said lower of said bottomportions with respect to said outer portion, whereby when the topportion of the swingable end wall is pushed in, it engages said meansextending up from the sides of said upper bottom portion and pulls thedouble end wall to open position after the adjacent flap is engaged bythe corresponding tab on the lower of said bottom portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,560 5/16Walcutt 22920 1,486,301 3/24 Rodgers 22911 2,638,211 5/53 S'purr 206-57FOREIGN PATENTS 388,971 3/33 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A CARDBOARD BOX FORMED AS AN OUTER PORTION, ANINNER PORTION LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLE THEREIN TO A LIMITED EXTENT, SAIDINNER PORTION BEING FORMED TO EXPOSE LEAVES FOR WITHDRAWAL ONE BY ONEFROM A CONTAINED STACK THEREOF, THE INNER PORTION COMPRISING TWO BOTTOMWALLS FUNCTIONALLY SLIDABLE WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER AND CONNECTED ATTHE LEAF OUTLET END OF THE PACKAGE BY A DOUBLE END WALL FORMED BY UNITEDPORTIONS FOLDED UPON ONE ANOTHER, BUT WITH THEIR BOTTOM EDGES SPACED SOTHAT SAID UNITED PORTIONS ARE NORMALLY DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO ONEANOTHER WHERE THEY UNITE AT THE TOP, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE SIDES OF THEUPPER BOTTOM WALL OF SAID INNER PORTION AND LYING INSIDE OF SAID OUTERPORTION, AND MEANS ON THE LOWER BOTTOM WALL OF SAID INNER PORTIONCOOPERATING WITH MEANS ON SAID OUTER PORTION TO INITIALLY FUNCTIONALLYLIMIT SLIDING MOVEMENT OF ONLY THE LOWER OF SAID BOTTOM WALLS OF SAIDINNER PORTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OUTER PORTION, WHEREBY WHEN SAIDMEANS CONNECTED TO THE UPPER BOTTOM WALL ARE LONGITUDINALLY PUSHEDTOWARD THE LEAF-WITHDRAWING END OF THE PACKAGE, THE UPPER PART OF SAIDINNER PORTION SLIDES ALONG ITS LOWER BOTTOM WALL AND THE DOUBLE END WALLIS MOVED DOWN TO OPEN POSITION AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE COOPERATINGMEANS ON THE LOWER BOTTOM PORTION AND SAID OUTER PORTION.